When temperatures are soaring, most of us are focusing on keeping ourselves cool and protected from the sun, but few of us extend this thought to our furniture.
Furniture must be protected from the sun all year round to prevent wear and damage, just like our skin, but this is especially important when the sun’s rays are strongest during the height of summer and in heatwaves.
Jamie Martin, Commercial Director at Roseland Furniture, shared the furniture most affected, “Wooden furniture is particularly susceptible, with UV rays causing fading, discolouration and uneven ageing, especially on surfaces closest to windows.
“Painted and veneered finishes can also lose their original colour over time, while upholstered headboards and soft furnishings may begin to fade or weaken after prolonged exposure to direct sunlight.”
How to protect your furniture
Jamie said, “One of the simplest ways to reduce damage is to close blinds or curtains when you’re out during the day, which has the added benefit of also keeping bedrooms cooler during the summer months.
“If you have valuable furniture or decorative pieces, it’s always worth considering where they’re positioned and trying to make sure they’re out of direct sunlight where possible. If you can’t do this, then a great solution can be to occasionally move around furniture in your room, such as your bed, sofa and where decorative furnishings are displayed. Although sun damage may still occur, this will help furniture to age more evenly over time.
“For rooms with large south-facing windows, UV-filtering glazing or window films can make a significant difference by blocking the vast majority of harmful UV rays while still allowing plenty of natural light into the room. However, during periods of intense sunshine, closing blinds or curtains is still the most effective way to protect furniture and soft furnishings from long-term fading and heat damage.”
Is there a fix for sun-damaged interiors?
“Once furniture has become sun-damaged, solutions very much depend on both the material and the extent of the damage. Solid wood furniture can often be professionally refinished, sanded or re-stained to restore a more consistent appearance. Veneered furniture, however, offers far less scope for repair, while faded upholstery and painted finishes are rarely returned to their original condition without reupholstery or replacement.
“Prevention is therefore the most effective approach, and homeowners should take the same care protecting bedroom furniture from UV exposure as they would furniture in their main living spaces.
Photo by adrian vieriu: https://www.pexels.com/photo/wooden-storage-cabinet-with-drawers-11643074/
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